Book Review: Neutral Buoyancy

During the writing of this book, Tim Ecott interviewed the
pioneers of diving. Hans and Lottie Hass of course, and
Dottie Frazier-May the first female diving instructor. He
also met Dickie Greenland, one of the few surviving wartime
"human torpedoes". In dreadful weather conditions Lieutenant
Greenland rode a small chariot into an Italian harbour and
blew up enemy destroyers. Unable to exit the harbour he was
captured, spending the rest of the war as a prisoner.

Ecott travelled to Florida to talk to an aquanaut - one of
the few men to have lived underwater in the largely
forgotten habitat experiments of the 60's. He even managed
to find an underwater hotel to visit.

The book also tells of the more distant history of
diving - such as Edmund Halley's diving bell patented in
1691 and the 17th century treasure seekers.

The sponge-divers' story certainly opened my eyes. I had
believed sponge harvesting drastically reduced the number
of sponges and damaged the environment. In fact sponge
trimmings thrown back into the sea regenerate into new
sponges, as do the sponge stumps left by the divers. And
most of the sponges sold in the Mediterranean are imported
from America.

The author wanted the book to inspire people to take up
diving and act as advocates for the preservation of the
marine environment. He hoped readers will discover something
about diving they hadn't come across before. He has almost
certainly succeeded in both his aims. His meticulously
researched stories, interspersed with Ecott's own
experiences - good and bad - has produced a delightful,
and enlightening, read.